David M. Alt

Partner

David M. Alt is a partner who regularly represents clients in a wide variety of matters, with particular emphasis on litigating and counseling clients with respect to complex commercial and insurance disputes.

David’s many years of civil trial work has included diverse transportation, insurance coverage, reinsurance, product liability, construction, contract, premises liability, professional liability, director/officer liability, and employment law issues. His practice spans well beyond Illinois having appeared in courts and tribunals in over 20 states, London, and Bermuda. In addition to domestic clients, he has represented clients from England, Japan, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, and Bermuda.

David’s philosophy is to be proactive at the onset of every matter. That includes both an immediate strategic assessment of the case and the creation of a plan to ensure success at the lowest possible cost. He believes this approach results in the sound early assessment of risk-benefit and the most cost efficient handling of a matter.

Besides his courtroom and litigation practice, David regularly assists clients with avoiding litigation in the first place through the careful drafting of contracts and through the implementation of risk-management policies that reduce the chance of litigation and the business distractions that inevitably occur when litigation ensues.

David is proud to be active in the community. He spends countless hours assisting local youth organizations and devotes significant time to pro bono matters to help individuals and non-profits who have little or no financial resources.

Representative Matters

Brettman v. Vela et al., Case No. 15 L 76 (Cook Co. Ill. 2017) The professional liability carrier defending this lawsuit was facing six-figure defense costs that were expected to potentially triple and a multi-million dollar settlement demand from the plaintiff. The carrier retained David to coordinate the defense of the lawsuit, position the case strategically for settlement, and aggressively negotiate with the plaintiff’s attorney. Within months, David settled the matter for a nominal amount thereby extinguishing the insurer’s defense costs, extricating the insured from a potentially seven-figure liability, and saving the insurer potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Confidential Pre-Suit Mediation (2016) London-based insurer retained David to seek recovery from a Chicago law firm who, without authority from the insurer, bound the insurer to a binding arbitration and resultant non-appealable seven-figure award. David provided the law firm with a draft complaint, demanded immediate mediation to minimize legal fees, and ultimately secured a seven-figure settlement from the law firm.

Waste Management Recycle America, Inc. v. Shawn Lavin, Case No. 10 CH 006665, (Ill. Cir. Ct. 2011); No. 2-11-0180 (Ill.2d Dist. 2011) After a five-day bench trial and subsequent appeal to the Illinois Court of Appeals, established the validity of a covenant not to compete in the employment contract of a former senior level executive of our client.

Selective Ins. Co. v. City of Paris, 681 F.Supp.2d 975 (C.D. Ill. 2010) Obtained summary judgment for one of city's liability insurance companies, proving that the insurer's policy did not cover a claim brought by two men convicted of murder, but released after 16 years.

Scottsdale Ins. Co. v. American Re-Insurance Co., No. 8:06CV16 (D. Neb. 2008) Court enters summary judgment in favor of reinsurer and against ceding company and broker who failed to properly procure reinsurance or obtain special acceptance from the reinsurer to provide reinsurance for long-haul trucking risk.

Essex Ins. Co. v. City of Chicago, No. 06 C 3743 (N.D. Ill. 2007) Obtained summary judgment based on no additional insured coverage where claim did not arise out of the named insured's work.

Wilson v. Leitner, No. C4-99-7770 (Anoka Co., Minn. 2002) Defense verdict at conclusion of plaintiff's case in professional liability suit against CPA brought by former clients who had been penalized by IRS for underpayment of taxes and improper accounting practices.